NIO ES8 crashes into highway patrol vehicle, killing driver

A Nio ES8 crashed into a highway maintenance vehicle in Putian, a city in eastern China, killing the Nio owner 31-year-old Lin Wenqin. 

Reports state Nio's Navigate on Pilot (NOP) driver-assistance feature had been activated. 

Afterwards, a Beijing law company hired by Lin Wenqin's family accused Nio of tampering with the car's data and accessing and deleting potentially incriminating evidence without the approval of the traffic police. 

Nio responded that the intervention was motivated by safety and that the operation performed on the vehicle would not cause data loss.

The incident raised concerns about Nio's the safety of Navigate on Pilot system, and about autonomous driving systems in general. It also raised questions about the company's integrity, transparency and accountability.

News, commentary, analysis 🗞️

• https://technode.com/2021/09/07/drive-i-o-fatal-crash-threatens-nios-reputation-and-expansion-plans/

• https://insideevs.com/news/527231/nio-es8-fatal-crash-china/

• https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Caixin/Nio-denies-tampering-with-data-after-fatal-crash

• https://cnevpost.com/2021/08/22/family-of-car-owner-in-fatal-crash-accuses-nio-of-helping-to-destroy-evidence/

• https://finance.sina.com.cn/tech/2021-08-22/doc-ikqciyzm2920991.shtml

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/nio-faces-formal-complaint-from-family-of-deceased-entrepreneur-over-allegations-it-helped-destroy-falsify-evidence-report/ar-AANCEzT

• https://technode.com/2021/08/23/police-investigate-claims-ev-maker-nio-tampered-with-car-data-after-crash/

• https://cnevpost.com/2021/08/24/nio-begins-requiring-users-to-take-test-before-using-assisted-driving-features

• https://www.carscoops.com/2021/08/nio-is-requiring-owners-to-pass-a-test-before-using-its-semi-autonomous-system/

• https://electrek.co/2021/08/24/nio-now-requires-a-test-before-using-assisted-driving-following-fatal-crash/